Following the finding of larch bark beetles (Ips cembrae) by department Forestry Inspectors in one of its pheromone traps in Passage West Port in Cork in August last year, the export of coniferous logs from the Pest Free Area of Scotland into Ireland was paused on a precautionary basis, pending a full investigation by the Scottish authorities. Over this time, the department continued to engage closely with Scottish and Northern Ireland counterparts. Scottish Forestry informed the department last week that it cannot guarantee that the Scottish PFA is free from Ips cembrae bark beetles and, as such, can no longer meet EU phytosanitary import requirements. Under the rules of the World Trade Organisation and the International Plant Protection Convention standards, it is a matter for National Plant Protection Organisations to determine the status of any pest on their territories, and to communicate that position to trading partners.